Sachiko Yamauchi, Naginata in NYC

By John Prough
The New York Naginata Club (NYNC) is happy to
announce the return of Yamauchi Sachiko Sensei to New York for continued
training in Naginata. Yamauchi Sensei lives in Matsuyama-shi, Ehime-ken
in Shikoku Japan. She has generously offered to help the NYNC improve
Naginata training in New York. She is also "Advisor" to the East Coast
Naginata Federation (ECNF). Yamauchi Sensei holds the rank of Kyoshi (senior
instructor) from the All Japan Naginata Federation. This is the 2nd
highest rank there is in naginata. She will be in New York from February
13 to May 7, 2000.

There is a Naginata Seminar schedule in New York
City on the weekend of March 11 & 12, 2000. Exact place and time
will be announced later.

Sachiko Yamauchi started her Naginata training
in 1971 at the Naginata Club of Matsuyama Shinonome junior high school.
By 16 years old she had reached Shodan. She was promoted to her current
rank of Kyoshi in 1996 a year after she had become age eligible.
Yamauchi Sensei is one of the youngest to ever be promoted to that rank.
The Naginata Federation ranking system is: Shodan (1st degree black belt)
through Godan (5th degree black belt), followed by the teaching titles
of Renshi (instructor), Kyoshi (senior instructor) and Hanshi (master instructor).
Minimum age requirement for Hanshi is 55.

Her tournament record is also very impressive.
In the 15TH All Japan Naginata High School Championship, she was the team
captain of the winning team. The next year she took the paired (engi)
College Championship. She continued her career in college, winning
both in team competition and individually during various All Japan College
Naginata Tournaments. Yamauchi Sensei was in many All Japan prefecture
competitions both as a team player and as a paired (engi) kata competitor.
Quite often placing in the top 10% or better. In 1989 at the 30th
All Japan Prefecture Championships, she took 1st place as an individual.
Thus, she has won first place in All Japan level naginata tournaments in
high school, college, and as an adult.

Yamauchi Sensei also has a great career
as a teacher and coach. She has taught Naginata at various levels.
This experience ranges from teaching Elementary and Junior High School
children to teaching older section (45+) at the Saijo Wako Club in Saijo
City, Ehime. She is qualified as a college level Naginata seminar
leader as well as Gifu and Ehime prefectures seminar leader. Sensei
holds a B level Naginata coaching certificate. She is a Class A Referee.

Among her many duties in Japan are: a Standing
Director of Ehime Naginata Federation (past General Secretary) and since
1996 Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Advisor to All Japan College
Naginata Federation, Advisor to the Ehime Prefecture Sports Association,
and Standing Director of Matsuyama City Sports Association. In 1991
Yamauchi Sensei received the Ehime Prefecture Sports Associationís Outstanding
Coach Award and the Matsuyama City Sports Associationís Distinguished Coaching
Award.

The NYNC holds a regular class in Naginata on
Sundays 1 to 3 PM at the White Street Fitness Center, 43 White Street,
Manhattan. This is located between Broadway and Church Streets in
lower Manhattan. White Street is parallel to Canal Street and about
2 blocks south of Canal.

Anyone who wishes to do Naginata is welcome,
beginner or advanced. The NYNF has extra equipment for use by beginners
until they can obtain their own. A hakama and keikogi or just comfortable
clothes are all that is needed to start.

The Naginata being taught is the new sport naginata
which is similar to kendo.

There will be some extra classes schedule to take
advantage of Sensei's being in New York City. The time and place
to be announcd.

Yamauchi Sensei is a very knowledgable teacher
and it is a great honor as well as an opportunity to be able to train with
someone at her level.